CN112055908A

CN112055908A - Rechargeable battery and manufacturing apparatus and method thereof

Info

Publication number: CN112055908A
Application number: CN201980026752.6A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 李虎燮; 奇大旭; 安善爀; 李至镛; 赵在敬; 崔赞塡; 张以炫
Original assignee: Samsung SDI Co Ltd
Current assignee: Samsung SDI Co Ltd
Priority date: 2018-04-26
Filing date: 2019-04-26
Publication date: 2020-12-08
Also published as: WO2019209066A1; KR20190124544A

Abstract

The present disclosure provides an apparatus for manufacturing a rechargeable battery having electrodes disposed and received in a pouch-shaped separator. A rechargeable battery manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a transfer part holding an alignment body in which an electrode is arranged between the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm, and transferring the held alignment body; a welding part forming a welded body by performing welding on a periphery of the electrode of the alignment body conveyed by the conveying part; and a cutting part manufacturing a unit body by cutting a welded portion between adjacent electrodes in the welded structure conveyed by the welding part.

Description

Rechargeable battery and manufacturing apparatus and method thereof

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a rechargeable battery, a manufacturing apparatus thereof, and a manufacturing method thereof. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a rechargeable battery in which an electrode may be disposed between separators, a manufacturing apparatus thereof, and a manufacturing method thereof.

Background

Unlike primary batteries, rechargeable batteries are batteries that are repeatedly charged and discharged. Small-capacity rechargeable batteries are used in small portable electronic devices such as mobile phones, notebook computers, and camcorders, and large-capacity rechargeable batteries may be used as power sources for driving motors of hybrid and electric vehicles.

For example, a rechargeable battery includes an electrode assembly that performs a charging operation and a discharging operation, and a pouch or case that houses the electrode assembly and an electrolyte solution. The electrode assembly may be classified into a stacking type, a spiral winding type, and a stacking/spiral winding hybrid type according to the structures of the electrode and the separator.

In the stacking type electrode assembly, it is difficult to align the electrodes and the separators. As an alternative to overcome this, a method of making a separator into a bag (bag) and inserting electrodes into the separator bag is disclosed.

One method of inserting an electrode into a septum pocket includes the steps of: pre-cutting the lower membrane so that the lower membrane can be adsorbed to a tray for transferring the lower membrane; placing a cutting electrode on the adsorbed lower diaphragm; placing a cut upper membrane over the electrode; welding the upper diaphragm and the lower diaphragm together and cutting the upper diaphragm and the lower diaphragm; and removing the excess portions of the upper and lower diaphragms.

Since this method cuts the separator before the separator is melted, it is difficult to handle the separator when the sheet of the separator is adsorbed onto the tray, and the quality, accuracy, and speed of stacking of the separator and the electrode are deteriorated.

In addition, since an unnecessary portion is removed from the separator in this method, the separator as a material is wasted, and when productivity is to be improved, the number of trays in which melting and cutting are performed increases.

Disclosure of Invention

Technical problem

Embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus and method for manufacturing a rechargeable battery having electrodes disposed and contained in a pouch-shaped separator. Embodiments of the present invention provide a rechargeable battery manufactured by an apparatus or method for manufacturing a rechargeable battery.

Technical scheme

An embodiment of the present invention provides a rechargeable battery manufacturing apparatus including: a transfer portion configured to hold and transfer an alignment body in which an electrode is provided between a first diaphragm and a second diaphragm; a welding part configured to form a welded body by welding an outer side of the electrode in the alignment body conveyed from the conveying part; and a cutting part configured to manufacture a unit body by cutting a welded portion between adjacent electrodes in the welded body transferred from the welding part.

The transfer part may include: a lower conveyor configured to travel while supporting a lower surface of the alignment body; and an upper conveyor configured to travel while supporting an upper surface of the alignment body and being in close contact with the lower conveyor to maintain the alignment body.

At least one of the lower conveyor and the upper conveyor may be formed with a width narrower than a width of the alignment body in a second direction (Y-axis direction) crossing the first direction (X-axis direction) in which the alignment body travels.

The fusion may include: first welding units provided at both sides of a second direction intersecting a first direction (X-axis direction) along which the alignment body travels to perform first welding on outer sides of the electrodes at both sides of the second direction, respectively; and a second welding unit provided at one side of the first welding unit in the first direction to perform second welding on the outer sides of the electrodes at both sides of the first direction along which the alignment body travels, respectively.

The first fusing unit may include: a first support that supports one surface of the alignment body at each of both sides in the second direction (Y-axis direction); a first welding tool that welds the outer side of the electrode of the alignment body in a direction opposite to the first support in a third direction (Z-axis direction) intersecting the first direction and the second direction; and a first drive assembly configured to operate the first fusion tool.

The first support may include: a lower conveyor configured to travel while supporting a lower surface of the alignment body; or an upper conveyor configured to travel while supporting an upper surface of the alignment body and being in close contact with the lower conveyor to maintain the alignment body.

The first welding tool may be formed to extend in the first direction (X-axis direction), and may weld the alignment body at the outer side of the electrode in the second direction.

The first welding tool may also be formed to intersect the second direction (Y-axis direction) at one end of the first direction, thereby preventing vertical and horizontal shaking of the electrode to fix the electrode.

The first drive assembly may include: an eleventh driving member that reciprocates (operates up and down) in a third direction (Z-axis direction); a twelfth driving member that reciprocates in the first direction (X-axis direction) (left-right operation) and is provided to face the first welding tool toward the first support; and a first cam follower connecting the eleventh driving member and the twelfth driving member.

The first drive assembly may further include: a substrate block mounted on the twelfth driving member; and a heating block on which the first welding tool may be mounted, the elastic member being interposed between both sides of the heating block and a center of the heating block being mounted on the base block by a hinge.

The second fusing unit may include: a second support supporting a lower surface of the alignment body traveling in the first direction; a second welding tool welding an outer side of the electrode of the alignment body above a second support in a third direction crossing the second direction; and a second drive assembly configured to operate a second fusion tool.

The second welding tool may extend in the second direction, and may weld the alignment body outside the first direction of the electrode.

The second drive assembly may include: a twenty-first driving member reciprocating in a third direction (Z-axis direction) (up-down operation); a twenty-second driving member that reciprocates in the first direction (X-axis direction) (left-right operation) and is provided to face the second welding tool toward the second support; and a second cam follower connecting the twenty-first and twenty-second drive members.

The second drive assembly may further include: a substrate block mounted on the twenty-second drive member; and a heating block on which the second welding tool may be mounted, the elastic member being interposed between both sides of the heating block and a center of the heating block being mounted on the base block by a hinge.

In the case of the second welding unit, since welding in the second direction is required, close contact and fixation by the upper and lower conveyors is difficult. Therefore, the second support may be formed with vacuum suction holes provided in the belt supporting the fusion-spliced body and connected to the external conveying conveyor by means of vacuum lines.

The second fusing unit may further include: and a first feeder disposed on the second support and formed of a nip roll in close contact with the second support to transfer the welded body to the cutting part. The first feeder may be used to convey the welded body by driving, or may be used as a nip roll that is in close contact with each other without driving. In addition, the function of conveying may be performed only on the conveying conveyor, and the first feeder may perform only the function of a nip roll which is in close contact with a cylinder and is fixed when stopped.

The cutting part may further include: and a second feeder disposed at an end of the second support and formed of nip rolls in close contact with each other to draw the unit bodies from the cutting part.

The cutting part may further include: a cutting tool that manufactures a unit body by cutting an outer side of an electrode of the welded body above a second support in a third direction, wherein the welded body travels in the first direction on the second support further extending from the second welding unit; and a third drive assembly configured to operate the cutting tool.

The cutting part may include: a cutting tool that manufactures a unit body by cutting an outer side of an electrode of the welded body over a support (e.g., a second support) in a third direction intersecting the first direction (X-axis direction), wherein the welded body is located on the support (e.g., the second support) that supports a lower surface of the welded body traveling in the first direction; and a third drive assembly configured to operate the cutting tool.

The third drive assembly may include: a thirty-first driving member reciprocating in a third direction (Z-axis direction) (up-down operation); a thirty-second driving member reciprocating in the first direction (X-axis direction) (left-right operation) and disposed to face the cutting tool toward the support; and a third cam follower connecting the thirty-first drive member and the thirty-second drive member.

The third drive assembly may include: a substrate block mounted on a thirty-second drive member; and an operation block on which the cutting tool can be mounted, the elastic member being interposed between both sides of the operation block and the center of the operation block being mounted on the base block by a hinge.

The welding part and the cutting part may manufacture a unit body by welding the first and second separators accommodating the electrodes from the alignment body into a bag shape and cutting it.

An embodiment of the present invention provides a rechargeable battery manufacturing apparatus including: a transfer portion configured to hold and transfer an alignment body in which an electrode is provided between a first diaphragm and a second diaphragm; a first welding unit configured to form a partial welding body by first welding a portion of an outer side of the electrode in the alignment body conveyed from the conveying section; and a welding/cutting part configured to manufacture a unit body by performing a second welding to a portion of a remaining part of the outside of the electrode in the partially welded body and simultaneously by cutting the welded portion between the adjacent electrodes.

The first welding unit may be disposed at both sides of a second direction crossing the first direction in which the alignment body travels, and may perform first welding on the outer sides of the electrodes at both sides of the second direction, respectively.

The welding/cutting part may include: a fourth support member that supports a lower surface of the partial welding body that travels in the first direction (X-axis direction); a welding/cutting tool that performs second welding on an outer side of the electrodes of the partial welded body above a fourth support in a third direction (Z-axis direction) intersecting the second direction (Y-axis direction) and simultaneously cuts a welded portion between adjacent electrodes; and a fourth drive assembly operating the welding/cutting tool.

The fourth drive assembly may include: a forty-first driving member that reciprocates (operates up and down) in a third direction (Z-axis direction); a forty-second driving member reciprocating in the first direction (X-axis direction) (left-right operation) and disposed to face the welding/cutting tool toward the fourth supporter; and a fourth cam follower connecting the forty-first drive member and the forty-second drive member.

The fourth driving assembly may further include a base block mounted on the forty-second driving member and a heating block mounted on the base block, and the welding/cutting tool may include a welding member mounted on the heating block and having one side provided with a flat end portion pressing and welding the partial weld body and a blade attached to one side of the welding member to cut the partial weld body.

In the welding/cutting tool, the knives and the pressing members may form a first group disposed from left to right and a second group disposed from right to left in the first direction.

The first group and the second group may form a continuous solid line in the second direction in the partial welded body.

The knife may cut the part welded body along the solid line.

The fourth drive assembly may further comprise a substrate block mounted on the forty-second drive member and a heating block mounted on the substrate block, and the welding/cutting tool may comprise: a welding member mounted on the heating block and having both sides provided with a flat end portion which moves up and down to press and weld the partial welding bodies, and a knife provided between the welding members to cut the partial welding bodies.

The knife may have a symmetrical structure in which a middle portion of the knife sharply protrudes in the first direction; the welding member may receive the symmetrical structure of the blade and form a symmetrical structure having a protruding end portion of a middle portion thereof sharply protruding in the first direction to press and weld the portion welding bodies at both sides thereof.

An embodiment of the present invention provides a rechargeable battery manufacturing method including the steps of: a transfer step of holding and transferring an alignment body in which an electrode is provided between a first diaphragm and a second diaphragm; a welding step of forming a welded body by welding an outer side of the electrode in the alignment body conveyed in the conveying step; and a cutting step of manufacturing a unit body by cutting a welded portion between adjacent electrodes in the welded body conveyed in the welding step.

The welding step may include the steps of: a first welding step of performing first welding on outer sides of the electrodes, respectively, at both sides of a second direction intersecting a first direction (X-axis direction) along which the alignment body travels; and a second welding step of performing second welding on outer sides of the electrodes at both sides of the first direction along which the alignment body travels, respectively.

The first welding step may include extending in the first direction (X-axis direction) to weld the alignment body at the outer side of the second direction of the electrode.

The second welding step may include extending in the second direction (Y-axis direction) to weld the alignment body at the outside of the first direction of the electrodes.

The cutting step may include manufacturing a unit body by cutting an outer side of the electrode of the welded body in a third upward direction intersecting the first direction and the second direction, wherein the welded body travels in the first direction.

An embodiment of the present invention provides a rechargeable battery manufacturing method including the steps of: a transfer step of holding and transferring an alignment body in which an electrode is provided between a first diaphragm and a second diaphragm; a partial welding step of forming a partial welded body by first welding a portion of the outside of the electrode in the alignment body conveyed in the conveying step; and a welding/cutting step of manufacturing a unit body by second welding a part of a remaining portion of the outside of the electrodes in the partial welded body conveyed in the partial welding step and by cutting a welded portion between adjacent electrodes.

The partial welding step may include first welding the outer sides of the electrodes at both sides of a second direction intersecting a first direction (X-axis direction) along which the alignment body travels, respectively.

The welding/cutting step may include the steps of: supporting a lower surface of a part of the welded body traveling in a first direction (X-axis direction); and manufacturing a unit body by second welding the outer sides of the electrodes of the partially welded body over a third direction (Z-axis direction) intersecting the second direction (Y-axis direction) while cutting a portion between adjacent electrodes.

An embodiment of the present invention provides a rechargeable battery including: an electrode assembly manufactured to have a pouch-shaped unit body by stacking a plurality of first separators and second separators accommodating electrodes; and a case accommodating the electrode assembly.

The housing may be formed as a can or bag.

The first separator and the second separator may manufacture a negative electrode among the pouch electrodes.

Advantageous effects

According to the embodiments of the present invention, by welding the electrodes disposed at the outer edges of the electrodes in the assembly body between the first separator and the second separator and cutting the welded portions between the adjacent electrodes, a pouch-shaped unit body can be manufactured, and a rechargeable battery having an electrode assembly in which the unit bodies are stacked can be manufactured.

In the embodiment, since the unit body is manufactured, when the electrode assembly is manufactured, the electrode and the first and second separators can be easily treated as the unit body, and the quality, accuracy, and speed of stacking the first and second separators and the electrode can be improved.

In addition, according to the embodiment, since the unnecessary portions of the first and second diaphragms are minimized, waste of the first and second diaphragms can be prevented, and an apparatus for melting and cutting the first and second diaphragms can be simplified.

Drawings

Fig. 1 shows a front view of an apparatus for manufacturing a rechargeable battery implementing a manufacturing method of the rechargeable battery according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view showing a state in which some constituent elements are removed from fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view showing a state where electrodes are inserted into first and second separators in the form of bags manufactured by the manufacturing apparatus of fig. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 shows a partial cross-sectional view of a first support supporting the alignment body in the first welding unit and a second support supporting the alignment body in the second welding unit and supporting the welding body in the cutting portion as shown in fig. 1 and 2.

Fig. 5 shows a side view of the first and second welding or cutting and welding/cutting tools shown in fig. 1 and 2 mounted on the first and second or third and fourth drive assemblies.

Fig. 6 shows a cross-sectional view taken along the line VI-VI of fig. 5.

Fig. 7 shows an operational state diagram of the first and second drive assemblies or the third and fourth drive assemblies shown in fig. 5 and 6.

Fig. 8 shows a partial cross-sectional view of the ends of the first and second fusion tools mounted on the first and second drive assemblies of fig. 5-7.

Fig. 9 shows a partial cross-sectional view of the end of the cutting tool mounted on the third drive assembly of fig. 5-7.

Fig. 10 is a front view showing an apparatus for manufacturing a rechargeable battery according to a second embodiment of the present invention, which implements a method of manufacturing a rechargeable battery.

Fig. 11 shows a partial cross-sectional view of two ends of a welding/cutting tool mounted on the fourth drive assembly of fig. 10.

Fig. 12 shows a top plan view of a part of the welded body welded by the welding/cutting tool according to the arrangement of both ends of fig. 11.

Fig. 13 shows a top plan view of a part of the welded body welded and cut by another welding/cutting tool according to the arrangement of both ends of fig. 11.

Fig. 14 shows a partial cross-sectional view of an end of another fusion/cutting tool mounted on the fourth drive assembly of fig. 10.

Fig. 15 shows a partial cross-sectional view of the end of another fusion/cutting tool mounted on the fourth drive assembly of fig. 10.

Fig. 16 illustrates an exploded perspective view of a rechargeable battery according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 17 is a top plan view showing an apparatus for manufacturing a rechargeable battery according to a third embodiment of the present invention, which implements a method of manufacturing a rechargeable battery.

Detailed Description

The present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown. As those skilled in the art will recognize, the described embodiments may be modified in various different ways, all without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention.

The drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout the specification.

Further, in the drawings, the size and thickness of each element are arbitrarily illustrated for ease of description, and the present disclosure is not necessarily limited to the size and thickness illustrated in the drawings.

Throughout this specification and the claims that follow, when an element is described as being "coupled" or "connected" to another element, the element may be "directly coupled" or "directly connected" to the other element, or "indirectly coupled" or "indirectly connected" to the other element through a third element. Additionally, unless explicitly described to the contrary, the words "comprise" and variations thereof are to be understood as implying the inclusion of stated elements but not the exclusion of any other elements.

Fig. 1 shows a front view of an apparatus for manufacturing a rechargeable battery implementing a manufacturing method of the rechargeable battery according to a first embodiment of the present invention, fig. 2 shows a top plan view of a state where some constituent elements are removed from fig. 1, and fig. 3 shows a top plan view of a state where electrodes are inserted into first and second separators in the form of bags manufactured by the manufacturing apparatus of fig. 1 and 2.

Referring to fig. 1 to 3, the rechargeable battery manufacturing apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment includes a transfer part 10, a welding part 20, and a cutting part 30 for manufacturing a unit body 34 to form an electrode assembly 100 (see fig. 16) of a rechargeable battery 300.

The transfer portion 10 is configured to hold and transfer an alignment body 44, the alignment body 44 including a first diaphragm 41 and a second diaphragm 42 with an electrode 43 disposed between the first diaphragm 41 and the second diaphragm 42. As an example, the transfer part 10 includes a lower conveyor 11 that moves while supporting the lower surface of the alignment body 44 and an upper conveyor 12 that supports the upper surface of the alignment body 44. The upper conveyor 12 is in close contact with the lower conveyor 11, and moves in the first direction (X-axis direction) while holding the alignment body 44 to convey the alignment body 44.

The first and

second separators

41 and 42 are continuously supplied to prevent physical contact between electrodes 43 (e.g., negative and positive electrodes) inside the rechargeable battery 300, and the first and

second separators

41 and 42 may be formed of a porous polymer resin such that ions and an electrolyte solution pass between the electrodes 43.

When the internal temperature of the rechargeable battery 300 rises due to overcharge or internal short circuit, the first and

second separators

41 and 42 are dissolved to be able to block the movement of ions. In addition, when the internal temperature increases, the first and

second separators

41 and 42 may contract to enable the electrodes 43 to contact each other. In an embodiment, the rechargeable battery 300 is configured to prevent contact of the electrode 43.

The lower conveyor 11 and the upper conveyor 12 are formed with a width W narrower than the width of the alignment body 44. The widths W of the lower conveyor 11 and the upper conveyor 12 are set in a second direction (Y-axis direction) intersecting the first direction (X-axis direction) in which the aligning body 44 moves. Therefore, the aligning body 44 is conveyed in the first direction (X-axis direction) in a state of protruding to both ends of the lower and

upper conveyors

11 and 12 in the second direction (Y-axis direction). In this case, the tab 435 (see fig. 16) of the electrode 43 protrudes to one side in the Y-axis direction of the first and second diaphragms 41 and 42 (see fig. 2).

The welded portion 20 is configured to form the welded body 24 by welding the outside of the electrode 43 in the alignment body 44 conveyed from the conveying portion 10. The welding portion 20 includes a first welding unit 21 and a second welding unit 22 provided along a first direction (X-axis direction).

The first welding units 21 are provided at both sides in the second direction (Y-axis direction) to perform first welding on the outer sides of the electrodes 43 at both sides in the second direction (Y-axis direction). The second welding unit 22 is provided at one side of the first direction (X-axis direction) of the conveying part 10 to perform second welding to the outside of the electrode 43 at both sides of the first direction (X-axis direction) along which the aligning body 44 travels.

The first welding unit 21 includes a first support 211, a first welding tool 212, and a first driving assembly 213. The first support 211 supports one surface (e.g., a lower surface) of the alignment body 44 at each of both sides of the second direction (Y-axis direction) during the first welding.

The first fusing tool 212 is configured to melt the outside of the electrode 43 of the alignment body 44 in the opposite direction (e.g., the upward direction) of the first support 211 in a third direction (Z-axis direction) intersecting the first direction and the second direction. For example, the first welding tool 212 is formed to extend in the first direction (X-axis direction), and to melt the alignment body 44 at the outside of the second direction (Y-axis direction) of the electrode 43.

In addition, in order to minimize the movement of the electrode 43 inside the first and

second diaphragms

41 and 42 during the process therefor, the first welding tool 212 is further formed to cross the second direction (Y-axis direction) from one end in the first direction (X-axis direction) to further melt the alignment body 44 at the outside of the first direction (X-axis direction) of the electrode 43. Therefore, the first welding tool 212 performs the first welding of the alignment body 44 in a shape extending in the X-axis direction and intersecting the Y-axis direction at the outer side of the electrode 43.

When welding in the X-axis direction, the welding length in the Y-axis direction (for example, 2mm to 10mm) should be appropriately set. When the length of the first welding tool 212 in the Y-axis direction is too long, since the first welding tool 212 is away from a heat source (not shown), the temperature thereof is lowered so that the alignment body 44 is not welded, and when the length of the first welding tool 212 is too short, the electrode 43 is not stably fixed.

In addition, during the first welding, the tabs 435 (see fig. 16) of the electrodes 43 protrude to one side of the Y-axis direction of the first and

second separators

41 and 42, so that the tabs 435 may be connected to each other when the electrode assembly 100 is assembled.

For the first fusion, the first fusion tool 212 is mounted on the first drive assembly 213. That is, the first drive assembly 213 is configured to operate the first fusion tool 212 for a first fusion.

For example, the first driving assembly 213 includes an eleventh driving member (up-down operation) 111 reciprocating in the third direction (Z-axis direction), a twelfth driving member (left-right operation) 112 reciprocating in the first direction (X-axis direction) and facing the first welding tool 212 toward the first support 211, and a first cam follower 113 connecting the eleventh driving member 111 and the twelfth driving member 112.

In the first embodiment, a pair of first welding tools 212 is provided at both sides in the Y-axis direction, and one first welding tool 212 or three or more first welding tools 212 may be provided in consideration of limitations in production speed and equipment.

The second welding unit 22 includes a second support 221, a second welding tool 222, and a second drive assembly 223. The second welding unit 22 may be formed in the same manner as the first welding unit 21. The second support 221 supports the lower surface of the alignment body 44 that travels in the first direction (X-axis direction) during the second welding.

The second welding tool 222 is configured to melt the outside of the electrode 43 of the alignment body 24 above the second support 221 in the third direction (Z-axis direction) intersecting the second direction (Y-axis direction). For example, the second welding tool 222 is formed to extend in the second direction (Y-axis direction) and to melt the alignment body 44 at the outside of the first direction (X-axis direction) of the electrode 43.

During the second welding, when welding is performed in the Y-axis direction, the melting length in the Y-axis direction is set to be larger than the length of the electrode 43. The length in the Y-axis direction is set so that no temperature drop occurs at the heat source (not shown) of the first welding tool 212, and the alignment body 44 can be stably welded.

To this end, the second fusion tool 222 is mounted on a second drive assembly 223. That is, the second drive assembly 223 is configured to operate the second welding tool 222 for a second weld.

For example, the second driving assembly 223 includes a twenty-first driving member (up-down operation) 411 reciprocating in the third direction (Z-axis direction), a twenty-second driving member (left-right operation) 412 reciprocating in the first direction (X-axis direction) and facing the second welding tool 222 toward the second support 221, and a second cam follower 413 connecting the twenty-first driving member 411 and the twenty-second driving member 412.

In the first embodiment, the second welding tools 222 are respectively provided at both sides in the X-axis direction, and one second welding tool may be provided only at one of both sides in the X-axis direction or three or more second welding tools may be spaced apart from each other in the X-axis direction in consideration of production speed and equipment limitations.

The cutting part 30 is configured to cut a melted portion between adjacent electrodes 43 in the welded body 24 delivered from the welded part 20 to manufacture the unit body 34. The cutting part 30 includes a support (second support) 221, a cutting tool 302, and a third driving assembly 303. The second support 221, which is a component of the second welding unit 22, supports the lower surface of the alignment body 24 traveling in the first direction (X-axis direction).

For the welded body 24 moving in the first direction on the second support 221 further extending from the second welding unit 22, the cutting tool 302 cuts the outside of the electrode 43 of the welded body 24 above the second support 221 in the third direction, thereby manufacturing the unit body 34.

In this way, the welding portion 20 and the cutting portion 30 melt and cut the first diaphragm 41 and the second diaphragm 42 of the receiving electrode 43 from the alignment body 44 into a bag shape, thereby manufacturing the unit cell 34.

In addition, to manufacture the unit body 34, the cutting tool 302 is mounted on the third drive assembly 303. That is, the third drive assembly 303 is configured to operate the cutting tool 302 to cut the welded body 24 into the unit bodies 34.

For example, the third driving assembly 303 includes a thirty-first driving member (up-down operation) 311 reciprocating in the third direction (Z-axis direction), a thirty-second driving member (left-right operation) 312 reciprocating in the first direction (X-axis direction) and facing the cutting tool 302 toward the second support 221, and a third cam follower 313 connecting the thirty-first driving member 311 and the thirty-second driving member 312.

Since the first and

second supports

211 and 221 are formed in the same structure and are respectively applied to the first and

second welding units

21 and 22 and the cutting part 30, this will be described with reference to fig. 4.

The first support 211 includes a vacuum suction hole 502 formed in a belt 501 supporting the alignment body 44, and is formed to connect the vacuum suction hole 502 to an external conveying conveyor through a vacuum line 503.

The second support 221 is formed in the same structure as that of the first support 211 for supporting the fusion-bonded body 24. Except that the first support 211 supports the alignment body 44 and the second support 221 supports the fusion-spliced body 24.

The tape 501 performs the endless conveyance M2 corresponding to the endless movement M1 of the first welding unit 21, the second welding unit 22, and the cutter 30. To reduce friction of the belt 501 during conveyance M2, the first support 211 includes a lubricant layer 504, a polyurethane layer 505 for providing sufficient stiffness to the belt 501, and a frame 506 below the belt 501 for maintaining the overall shape.

According to the experiment, the hardness of the first support 211 required for melting and the hardness of the second support 221 required for cutting are different. In order to melt and cut efficiently, the shore hardness of the first and

second supports

211 and 221 during welding is preferably 70 or less, and the shore hardness of the second support 221 during cutting is preferably 80 or more.

Since the lower and

upper conveyors

11 and 12 fix the alignment body 44 on the first support 211, there is little possibility of product error when the alignment body 44 is first welded by the first welding unit 21.

Since the lower conveyor 11 and the upper conveyor 12 are not present on the second support 221, when the alignment body 44 is second welded by the second welding unit 22, and when the welding body 24 is cut by the cutting portion 30, the alignment body 44 and the welding body 24 are suction-fixed on the belt 501 by the suction force of the vacuum suction holes 502.

Fig. 5 shows a side view of the first and second welding or cutting tools and welding/cutting tools shown in fig. 1 and 2 mounted on first and second or third and fourth drive assemblies, fig. 6 shows a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI of fig. 5, and fig. 7 shows an operational state diagram of the first and second or third and fourth drive assemblies shown in fig. 5 and 6.

Since the first and

second driving assemblies

213 and 223 or the third and

fourth driving assemblies

303 and 423 are formed in the same structure such that the first welding tool 212, the second welding tool 222 or the cutting tool 302 and the welding/cutting tool 422 are mounted on the first welding unit 21, the second welding unit 22, the cutting part 30 and the welding/cutting part 230, respectively, this will be described with reference to fig. 5 to 7.

Referring to fig. 5 to 7, the first and

second driving assemblies

213 and 223 further include a base block 601 mounted on the twelfth and twenty-

second driving members

112 and 412, and a heating block 604 having an elastic member 602 interposed between both sides thereof and mounted on the base block 601 through a center hinge 603 thereof. The first welding tool 212 and the second welding tool 222 are mounted on a heating block 604.

A heater 605 is attached to the heating block 604. As an example, a plate heater made of mica material may be applied to the heater 605. The plate heater may have a thickness of 1mm to 2mm to be light and slim.

The third drive assembly 303 further includes a base block 601 mounted on the thirty second drive member 312 and an operation block 614 having an elastic member 602 interposed between both sides thereof and mounted on the base block 601 through a center hinge 603 thereof. The cutting tool 302 is mounted on the operation block 614. The heater is not attached to operation block 614. Due to process characteristics, the operation block 614 is installed instead of the heating block 604.

The elastic member 602 and the hinge 603 form a self-aligning means between the base block 601 and the heating block 604 or the operation block 614, thereby enabling the first and

second supports

211 and 221 at the lower portion to be automatically balanced with the first and

second welding tools

212 and 222 and the cutting tool 302 at the upper portion. Therefore, the quality of welding and cutting will be uniform in the X-axis and Y-axis directions.

Fig. 8 shows a partial cross-sectional view of the ends of the first and second fusion tools mounted on the first and second drive assemblies of fig. 5-7. Referring to fig. 8, the ends a1, b1, and c1 of the first welding tool 212 and the second welding tool 222 are formed to have various structures, and thus the first welding and the second welding can be performed to the outside of the electrode 43 in the alignment body 44.

The ends a1, b1, and c1 of the first welding tool 212 and the second welding tool 222 are portions where heat is applied to the first diaphragm 41 and the second diaphragm 42, and are formed to have a large area for welding to each other. For example, the end portions a1, b1, and c1 are formed to have an overall circular structure a1, a basic structure b1 having a circular shape at both ends of a straight line, and two rows of structures c1 having a circular shape at both ends of a straight line and a groove in a middle portion.

The end a1 having an overall circular structure may alleviate wrinkles in the first and

second diaphragms

41 and 42 and may alleviate thermal shock of the first and

second diaphragms

41 and 42, as compared to the end b1 having a basic structure. The end c1 having the two-row structure welds the first and

second diaphragms

41 and 42 with the same width, but may reduce the amount of heat transferred.

Fig. 9 shows a partial cross-sectional view of the end of the cutting tool mounted on the third drive assembly of fig. 5-7. Referring to fig. 9, the ends a2, b2, and c2 of the cutting tool 302 are formed to have various structures, and thus can cut the outside of the electrode 43 in the welded body 24. The end portions a2, b2, and c2 of the cutting tool 302 are formed to cut the fusion-spliced body 24 to have, for example, a double-angled structure a2, a basic structure b2, and a rounded structure c 2.

The end a2 having a double-angled structure may ensure additional welding strength during cutting, compared to the end b2 having a basic structure. The end a2 has two angles θ 1 and θ 2 to provide more thermal compression by heat than cutting by shear force.

By adjusting the angles θ 1 and θ 2, an optimum point of the trade-off relationship between the welding strength of the alignment body 44 and the quality of the cut surface of the welding body 24 can be found. Since the end c2 having a circular configuration has a certain curvature, it is possible to ensure both the welding strength of the alignment body 44 and the quality of the cut surface of the welding body 24.

Referring again to fig. 1 and 2, the second welding unit 22 further includes a first feeder 401, the first feeder 401 being disposed on the second support 221 and formed with a roller in close contact with the second support 221 to transfer the welding body 24 to the cutting part 30.

The cutting part 30 further includes a second feeder 402, the second feeder 402 being disposed at an end of the second support 221 and formed with nip rollers in close contact with each other to draw the unit body 34 from the cutting part 30.

The welded body 24, which has been welded, is conveyed to the cutting part 30 through the second support 221 and the first feeder 401. The first feeder 401 rotates at the same tangential speed as the second support 221. Accordingly, the second support 221 has a proper tension to enable the second welding and cutting.

When the first feeder 401 is not driven, the welded body 24 may be driven to be in close contact with the second support 221 by the nip roll of the second feeder 402. The first feeder 401 may be provided with one or more rollers and the second feeder may be configured as a belt (not shown).

The unit bodies 34 cut by the cutting part 30 are fixed to the second support 221 by the vacuum suction force of the vacuum suction holes 502 and are conveyed. The cutting section 30 cuts the center of the welding portion welded by the second welding tool 222 in the X-axis direction by using the cutting tool 302.

To this end, the cutting tool 302 may be operated in response to a signal from a separate trigger sensor (not shown). In consideration of limitations of production speed and equipment, as shown in the X-axis direction, a pair of cutting tools 302 may be provided, one cutting tool 302 may be provided or three or more cutting tools 302 may be provided.

A rechargeable battery manufacturing method for manufacturing the unit cell 34 of the rechargeable battery 300 will be described by using the rechargeable battery manufacturing apparatus 1 of the first embodiment constructed as described above. Referring to fig. 1 and 2, the rechargeable battery manufacturing method of the first embodiment includes a conveying step ST10, a fusing step ST20, and a cutting step ST 30.

The transfer step ST10 is performed in the transfer section 10, and in this case, the aligned body 44 of the first diaphragm 41 and the second diaphragm 42 with the electrode 43 disposed therebetween is held and transferred. The welding step ST20 is performed in the welded portion 20, and in this case, the welded body 24 is formed by welding the outside of the electrode 43 in the aligned body 44 conveyed in the conveying step ST 10.

The welding step ST20 includes a first welding step ST21 performed in the first welding unit 21 and a second welding step ST22 performed in the second welding unit 22. In the first welding step ST21, first welding is performed to the outer side of the electrode 43 at both sides of the second direction intersecting the first direction (X-axis direction) along which the alignment body 44 travels, and in the second welding step ST22, second welding is performed to the outer side of the electrode 43 at both sides of the first direction along which the alignment body 44 travels.

The first welding step ST21 extends in the first direction (X-axis direction), and the alignment body 44 is first welded at the outer side of the electrode 43 in the second direction. The second welding step ST22 extends in the second direction (Y-axis direction), and the alignment body 44 is second welded at the outer side of the electrode 43 in the first direction.

In the first welding and the second welding, heat is applied to the polymer materials (e.g., PE) of the first and

second diaphragms

41 and 42 to bring them into close contact and join. The fusion time is set at the level of milliseconds (ms).

In addition, in order to properly perform the first welding and the second welding, it is necessary to set pressure, temperature, and time.

Under the condition that the fusion is kept at an appropriate level, the predetermined possible range of the pressure condition is widened. However, when the pressure condition is excessive, the first diaphragm 41 and the second diaphragm 42 may be melted and cut. The welding conditions are quite temperature sensitive. For example, when the welding time is 0.03 to 0.07 seconds, the welding temperature may be at a level of 180 to 240 ℃.

The cutting step ST30 is performed in the cutting section 30, and the unit body 34 is manufactured by cutting the welded portion between the adjacent electrodes 43 in the welded body 24 conveyed in the welding step ST 20. That is, in the cutting step ST30, the unit cell 34 is manufactured by cutting the outside of the electrode 43 of the welded body 24 in the upper portion of the third direction intersecting the first direction and the second direction with respect to the welded body 24 moving in the first direction.

The cutting is associated with the mechanical shape of the cutting tool 302 as well as temperature, time, and pressure conditions. For example, high temperatures of 240 ℃ to 280 ℃ are required to ensure a high quality cut surface in a cutting time of 0.02 seconds to 0.07 seconds.

When an excessive pressure is applied, the belt 501 of the second support 221 may be damaged, and thus an impact reducing means such as an elastic member 602 suitable for the cutting part 30 is required, and the belt 501 having excellent heat resistance is required.

For example, the depth of descent of the cutting tool 302 for cutting is 50 μm to 100 μm based on the contact surface. The deeper the drop depth, the better the cut, but the damage to the ribbon 501 and the wear and contamination of the cutting tool 302 will increase. Therefore, it is desirable to cut with minimal depth.

Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The second embodiment is compared with the first embodiment, the description of the same configuration will be omitted, and a different configuration will be described.

Fig. 10 is a front view showing an apparatus for manufacturing a rechargeable battery according to a second embodiment of the present invention, which implements a method of manufacturing a rechargeable battery. Referring to fig. 10, the rechargeable battery manufacturing apparatus 2 of the second embodiment includes a transfer part 10 for manufacturing the unit body 34, a first welding unit 21, and a welding/cutting part 230.

Comparing the first embodiment and the second embodiment, since their transfer portions 10 are the same, the description thereof will be omitted. In the rechargeable battery manufacturing apparatus 1 of the first embodiment, the first welding unit 21 and the second welding unit 22 form the welded portion 20, and the cut portion 30 is separately configured. In contrast, in the rechargeable battery manufacturing apparatus 2 of the second embodiment, the first welding is performed by the first welding unit 21, and the second welding and cutting is performed by the welding/cutting part 230.

The first welding unit 21 forms the partial welding body 24 by first welding a portion of the outside of the electrode 43 in the alignment body 44 conveyed from the conveying part 10. The first welding units 21 are provided at both sides of a second direction intersecting a first direction (X-axis direction) along which the alignment body 44 travels, and perform first welding to the outside of the electrode 43 at both sides of the second direction. Comparing the first and second embodiments, since their first welding units 21 are the same, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The welding/cutting portion 230 is configured to perform the second welding on a portion of the remaining portion of the outer side of the electrode 43 in the partially welded body 24, and simultaneously cut the welded portion between the adjacent electrodes 43 to manufacture the unit body 34.

The welding/cutting portion 230 includes a fourth supporter 421, a welding/cutting tool 422, and a fourth driving assembly 423. The fourth support 421 supports the lower surface of the partial fusion-bonded body 24 that travels in the first direction (X-axis direction).

The welding/cutting tool 422 performs the second welding on the outside of the electrodes 43 of the partial welding body 24 above the fourth supporter 421 in the third direction (Z-axis direction) crossing the second direction (Y-axis direction), and simultaneously cuts the welded portion between the adjacent electrodes 43 to manufacture the unit body 34.

In this way, the first welding unit 21 and the welding/cutting section 230 perform the first welding and the second welding on the first diaphragm 41 and the second diaphragm 42 from the receiving electrode 43 of the alignment body 44 and cut them into a bag shape to manufacture the unit body 34.

In addition, to manufacture the unit body 34, the welding/cutting tool 230 is mounted on the fourth driving assembly 423. That is, the fourth driving assembly 423 is configured to operate the welding/cutting tool 422 to cut the partial welding body 24 into the unit bodies 34.

For example, the fourth driving assembly 423 includes a forty-first driving member (up-and-down operation) 431 reciprocating in the third direction (Z-axis direction), a forty-second driving member (left-and-right operation) 432 reciprocating in the first direction (X-axis direction) and facing the welding/cutting tool 422 toward the fourth support 421, and a fourth cam follower 433 connecting the forty-first driving member 431 and the forty-second driving member 432.

Fig. 11 shows a partial cross-sectional view of two ends of a welding/cutting tool mounted on the fourth drive assembly of fig. 10. Referring to fig. 5-7 and 11, the fourth drive assembly 423 further includes a substrate block 601 mounted on the forty-second drive member 432 and a heater block 604 mounted on the substrate block 601.

The welding/cutting tool 422 is mounted on the heating block 604, and includes a welding member 425 and a knife 426, one side of the welding member 425 is provided with a flat end portion welded by pressing a portion of the welding body 24, and the knife 426 is attached to one side of the welding member 425 to cut a portion of the welding body 24. In the fusing/cutting tool 422, the knife 426 and the fusing member 425 may form a first group a3 disposed at the left and right sides in the X-axis direction, respectively, and a second group b3 disposed at the right and left sides in the X-axis direction, respectively, and may be disposed in the Y-axis direction.

According to the operation of the fourth driving assembly 423, the welding member 425 of the welding/cutting tool 422 having the height difference Δ H1 presses and second welds the partial weld body 24, and in this case, the knife 426 cuts the partial weld body 24. The height difference Δ H1 sets the time difference between the cut and the second weld.

Since the cutting of the partial weld body 24 can be performed before the second welding, the smaller the height difference Δ H1, the more advantageous the cutting accuracy of the partial weld body 24 is, but when the height difference is too small, the cutting quality of the partial weld body 24 may deteriorate.

Referring to fig. 12, second welding portions (corresponding to the welding members 425) are alternately provided in the first group a3 and the second group b3 of the welding/cutting tool 422 in the first direction (X-axis direction) of the partial welding body 24, and one sides of the second welding portions may be connected to each other in the second direction (Y-axis direction) by a solid line L1.

The knife 426 cuts the partial welded body 24 along one side of the second welded portion connected by the solid line L1 over the entire width in the Y-axis direction.

Referring to fig. 13, since the blades 426 of the first and second groups a3 and b3 of the welding/cutting tool 422 cut the second welded portion (corresponding to the welding member 425) connected by the solid line L1 over the entire width of the second direction (Y-axis direction) of the partial welded body 24, they are divided into two.

That is, the solid line L1 is divided into two solid lines L2 and L3. Therefore, the divided

partial weld bodies

24a and 24b are formed by disposing the second weld portions (corresponding to the welding members 425) so as to be spaced apart from each other in the Y-axis direction, respectively.

Fig. 14 shows a partial cross-sectional view of an end of another fusion/cutting tool mounted on the fourth drive assembly of fig. 10. Referring to fig. 5-7 and 14, the fourth drive assembly 423 further includes a substrate block 601 mounted on the forty-second drive member 432 and a heater block 604 mounted on the substrate block 601.

The welding/cutting tool 422 is mounted on the heating block 604, and includes welding members 427 of which both sides are provided with flat ends that move up and down to be welded by pressing a portion of the welded body 24, and a knife 428 that is provided between the welding members 427 to cut the portion of the welded body 24.

When the welding member 427 of the welding/cutting tool 422 reduces the height difference Δ H2 according to the operation of the fourth driving assembly 423, the welding/cutting tool 422 presses and welds both sides of the partial welding body 24, and at this time, the knife 428 descends to cut the partial welding body 24.

For example, in a state where there is a height difference Δ H2 of about 20um to 100um level at an initial time by a support structure such as a spring (not shown), the welding member 427 performs pressing and second welding first, and the knife 428 cuts part of the welded body 24 while descending after the second welding. The height difference Δ H2 sets the time difference between the second welding and the cutting.

Fig. 15 shows a partial cross-sectional view of the end of another fusion/cutting tool mounted on the fourth drive assembly of fig. 10. Referring to fig. 15, in the welding/cutting tool 444, the blade 428 has a symmetrical structure in which a middle portion thereof sharply protrudes in the first direction.

The welding member 447 accommodates the symmetrical structure (X-axis direction) of the blade 428 and has a symmetrical structure in which the protruding end portion of the middle portion thereof sharply protrudes in the first direction, so as to press and second weld the partial weld body 24 at both sides of the blade 428. In addition, welding member 447 is mounted to be rotatable by hinge 448. Fusion members 447 may absorb height difference Δ H3 with springs or their own elasticity. That is, the welding member 447 serves as a pusher to smoothly perform both the welding and cutting functions.

When the welding members 447 of the welding/cutting tool 444 reduce the height difference Δ H3 according to the operation of the fourth driving assembly 423, they press and second weld both sides of the partial weld body 24, and at this time, the knife 428 descends to cut the partial weld body 24.

In this case, the welding member 447 rotates about the hinge 448 while contacting the part weld body 24 to press and second weld the part weld body 24, and the knife 428 descends to cut the part weld body 24. Therefore, melting simultaneously occurs in the partial weld bodies 24 at the time of cutting, and thus the partial weld bodies 24 are subjected to second welding.

A rechargeable battery manufacturing method for manufacturing the unit cell 34 of the rechargeable battery 300 will be described by using the rechargeable battery manufacturing apparatus 2 of the second embodiment constructed as described above. Referring to fig. 10, the rechargeable battery manufacturing method of the second embodiment includes a conveying step ST10, a partial fusing step ST21, and a fusing/cutting step ST 230.

Comparing the first embodiment and the second embodiment, since their transfer step ST10 is the same, the description thereof will be omitted. In the rechargeable battery manufacturing method of the first embodiment, the first fusing step ST21 and the second fusing step ST22 form the fusing step ST20, and the cutting step ST30 is separately constructed. In contrast, the rechargeable battery manufacturing method of the second embodiment is configured to partially weld the alignment body 44 (first welding) in the partial welding step ST21, and is configured to weld the partial welded body 24 (second welding) and cut in the welding/cutting step ST 230.

The partial welding step ST21 is performed in the first welding unit 21, and in this case, the partial welding body 24 is formed by first welding a portion of the outside of the electrode 43 in the aligned body 44 conveyed in the conveying step ST 10. In the partial welding step ST21, the outer sides of the electrodes 43 are respectively welded at both sides in the second direction intersecting the first direction (X-axis direction) along which the alignment body 44 travels. Comparing the first embodiment and the second embodiment, since their first welding step ST21 and partial welding step ST21 are the same, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In the welding/cutting step ST230, a part of the remaining part of the outside of the electrodes 43 is second welded in the partial welded body 24 delivered from the partial welding step ST21, and the welded part between the adjacent electrodes 43 is cut to manufacture the unit body 34.

In the welding/cutting step ST230, the lower surface of the partial welded body 24 traveling in the first direction (X-axis direction) is supported, the second welding is performed on the outer side of the electrodes 43 of the partial welded body 24 in the third direction (Z-axis direction) intersecting the second direction (Y-axis direction), and at the same time, the welded portion between the adjacent electrodes 43 is cut to manufacture the unit body 34. In the second welding, the outsides of the electrodes 43 are welded at both sides in the first direction (X-axis direction) along which the partial welding bodies 24 travel, respectively.

In this way, in the rechargeable battery manufacturing method of the second embodiment, the second welding and cutting are integrally performed. In order to perform the second welding and the cutting at the same time, the first and

second diaphragms

41 and 42 should be pressed and brought into close contact with each other before the second welding.

In the second embodiment, since the first diaphragm 41 and the second diaphragm 42 accommodate the electrode 43 by the first welding, the electrode 43 is not bent despite the thickness of the electrode 43. Therefore, the first diaphragm 41 and the second diaphragm 42 are held in close contact. Therefore, the second welding and cutting can be performed simultaneously and smoothly.

Fig. 16 illustrates an exploded perspective view of a rechargeable battery according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to fig. 16, the rechargeable battery 300 of the embodiment manufactured by the rechargeable

battery manufacturing apparatuses

1 and 2 or the manufacturing method of the first and second embodiments includes an electrode assembly 100 and a case 200.

The electrode assembly 100 is formed by stacking a plurality of unit cells 34 manufactured in a pouch shape with first and

second separators

41 and 42 accommodating electrodes 43 therein. In the unit cell 34, the tab 435 of the electrode 43 protrudes between the first diaphragm 41 and the second diaphragm 42 that are welded (first welded). The case 200 accommodates the electrode assembly 100 and an electrolyte solution. By way of example, the housing 200 may be formed as a bag or canister (not shown).

In the rechargeable battery 300 of the embodiment, since the electrodes 43 are disposed inside the thermal bonding pouch shape of the first and

second separators

41 and 42, even when the first and

second separators

41 and 42 are contracted due to heat generated inside the cells during driving of the rechargeable battery 300 due to various factors, it is possible to reduce the possibility of a short circuit in which the electrodes 43 contact each other.

Since the first and

second diaphragms

41 and 42 and the electrode 43 are formed as the cell body 34 in a bag shape, the cell body 34 can be easily handled, and since the manufacturing process thereof is simple, the productivity can be improved. Although not shown, the electrode assembly 100 may also be formed by manufacturing only negative electrodes of the first and second separators in the form of pouch and disposing positive electrodes thereof between the pouch.

In a state where the lower and

upper conveyors

11 and 12 hold the alignment body 44 in the first welding unit 21 of the welding portion 20, since the first welding is performed in the entire range of the first direction and in the partial range of the second direction for the electrodes 43 to form the unit body 34, the accuracy of the unit body 34, the electrode assembly 100, and the rechargeable battery 300 can be ensured. In other words, the variation in the quality of the unit cell 34 can be minimized despite the process change, and stable production can be performed.

Fig. 17 is a top plan view showing an apparatus for manufacturing a rechargeable battery according to a method of manufacturing a rechargeable battery according to a third embodiment of the present invention. Referring to fig. 17, the rechargeable battery manufacturing apparatus 3 of the third embodiment includes a first support configured with a lower conveyor 115 or an upper conveyor 12.

The lower conveyor 115 travels while supporting the lower surface of the alignment body 44, and the upper conveyor 12 travels while supporting the upper surface of the alignment body 44 and being in close contact with the lower conveyor 115 while maintaining the alignment body 44.

In this case, the lower conveyor 115 is formed to have a wide width, and the upper conveyor 12 of the fusion splice 20 can travel while holding the alignment body 44 in a state of pressing the alignment body 44 formed to have a width narrower than the width of the lower conveyor 115.

While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be practical exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

-description of symbols-

1. 2, 3: rechargeable battery manufacturing apparatus 10: conveying part

11. 12: lower, upper conveyor 20: welded joint

21. 22: first and second welding units 24: welding body (partial welding body)

30: the cutting part 34: unit body

41. 42: first and second diaphragms 43: electrode for electrochemical cell

44: alignment body 100: electrode assembly

111: eleventh driving member (up-down) 112: twelfth Driving Member (left and right)

113: first cam follower 115: lower conveyer

200: the housing 211: first support member

212: first fusion tool 213: first drive assembly

221: second support 222: second welding tool

223: second drive assembly 230: welding/cutting part

300: rechargeable battery 435: wiring piece

302: the cutting tool 303: third drive assembly

311: thirty-first driving member (up-down) 312: thirty-second drive component (left and right)

313: third cam followers 401, 402: first and second feeders

411: twenty-first driving means (up and down) 412: the twenty-second driving component (left and right)

413: second cam follower 421: fourth supporting member

422: welding/cutting tool 423: fourth drive assembly

425: welding members 426, 428: knife with cutting edge

427. 447: welding member 431: forty-first driving member (Up-down)

432: forty-second driving means (left and right) 433: fourth cam follower

443. 444 of: welding/cutting tools 448, 603: hinge assembly

501: the belt 502: vacuum suction hole

503: the vacuum line 504: lubricant layer

505: the polyurethane layer 506: frame structure

601: the base block 602: elastic member

604: a heating block 614: operation block

a1, b1, c 1: end (circular structure, basic structure, two-line structure)

a2, b2, c 2: end (double corner structure, basic structure, round structure)

a3, b 3: first, second groups L1, L2, L3: solid line

ST 10: transfer step ST 20: welding step

ST 21: first welding step (partial welding step) ST 22: second welding step

ST 30: cutting step ST 230: welding/cutting step

W: widths θ 1, θ 2: angle of rotation

Δ H1, Δ H2, Δ H3: height difference

Claims

1. A rechargeable battery manufacturing apparatus, the rechargeable battery manufacturing apparatus comprising:

a transfer portion configured to hold and transfer an alignment body in which an electrode is provided between a first diaphragm and a second diaphragm;

a welding part configured to form a welded body by welding an outer side of the electrode in the alignment body conveyed from the conveying part; and

and a cutting part configured to manufacture a unit body by cutting a welded portion between adjacent electrodes in the welded body transferred from the welding part.

2. The rechargeable battery manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1,

the transfer section includes:

a lower conveyor configured to travel while supporting a lower surface of the alignment body; and

an upper conveyor configured to travel while supporting an upper surface of the alignment body and being in close contact with the lower conveyor to maintain the alignment body.

3. The rechargeable battery manufacturing apparatus according to claim 2,

at least one of the lower conveyor and the upper conveyor is formed to have a width narrower than a width of the alignment body in a second direction (Y-axis direction) crossing the first direction (X-axis direction) in which the alignment body travels.

4. The rechargeable battery manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1,

the fusion splice includes:

first welding units provided at both sides of a second direction intersecting a first direction (X-axis direction) along which the alignment body travels to perform first welding on outer sides of the electrodes, respectively, at both sides of the second direction; and

and a second welding unit disposed at one side of the first welding unit in the first direction to perform second welding on the outer sides of the electrodes, respectively, at both sides of the first direction along which the alignment body travels.

5. The rechargeable battery manufacturing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein,

the first welding unit includes:

a first support that supports one surface of the alignment body at each of both sides in the second direction (Y-axis direction);

a first welding tool that welds the outer sides of the electrodes of the alignment body in a direction opposite to the first support in a third direction (Z-axis direction) intersecting the first direction and the second direction; and

a first drive assembly configured to operate a first fusion tool.

6. The rechargeable battery manufacturing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein,

the first support member includes:

a lower conveyor configured to travel while supporting a lower surface of the alignment body; or

7. The rechargeable battery manufacturing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein,

the first welding tool extends in a first direction (X-axis direction).

8. The rechargeable battery manufacturing apparatus according to claim 7,

the first welding tool is further formed to intersect the second direction (Y-axis direction) at one end in the first direction.

9. The rechargeable battery manufacturing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein,

the first drive assembly includes:

an eleventh driving member that reciprocates in a third direction (Z-axis direction);

a twelfth driving member that reciprocates in the first direction (X-axis direction) and is provided to face the first welding tool toward the first support; and

and a first cam follower connecting the eleventh driving member and the twelfth driving member.

10. The rechargeable battery manufacturing apparatus according to claim 9,

the first drive assembly further comprises:

a substrate block mounted on the twelfth driving member; and

a heating block having an elastic member inserted between both sides thereof and having a center mounted on the base block by a hinge,

the first fusion tool is mounted on the heating block.

11. The rechargeable battery manufacturing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein,

the second welding unit includes:

a second support supporting a lower surface of the alignment body traveling in the first direction;

a second welding tool for welding the outer side of the electrode of the alignment body above a second support in a third direction intersecting the second direction; and

a second drive assembly configured to operate a second fusion tool.

12. The rechargeable battery manufacturing apparatus according to claim 11,

the second welding tool extends in the second direction and welds the alignment body outside the first direction of the electrode.

13. The rechargeable battery manufacturing apparatus according to claim 11,

the second drive assembly includes:

a twenty-first driving member reciprocating in a third direction;

a twenty-second driving member reciprocating in the first direction and disposed to face the second welding tool toward the second support; and

a second cam follower connecting the twenty-first drive member and the twenty-second drive member.

14. The rechargeable battery manufacturing apparatus according to claim 13,

the second drive assembly further comprises:

a substrate block mounted on the twenty-second drive member; and

the second fusion tool is mounted on the heating block.

15. The rechargeable battery manufacturing apparatus according to claim 11,

the second support is formed with a transport conveyor,

in the conveying conveyor, vacuum suction holes are provided on a belt supporting the fusion-spliced body, and the conveying conveyor connects the vacuum suction holes to the outside with vacuum lines.

16. The rechargeable battery manufacturing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein,

the second welding unit further includes:

and a first feeder disposed on the second support and formed of a nip roll in close contact with the second support to transfer the welded body to the cutting part.

17. The rechargeable battery manufacturing apparatus according to claim 16,

the cutting part further includes:

and a second feeder disposed at an end of the second support and formed of nip rolls in close contact with each other to draw the unit bodies from the cutting part.

18. The rechargeable battery manufacturing apparatus according to claim 11,

the cutting part further includes:

a cutting tool that manufactures a unit body by cutting an outer side of an electrode of the welded body above a second support in a third direction, wherein the welded body travels in the first direction on the second support further extending from the second welding unit; and

a third drive assembly configured to operate the cutting tool.

19. The rechargeable battery manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1,

the cutting part includes:

a cutting tool that manufactures a unit body by cutting an outer side of an electrode of a welded body above a support in a third direction crossing the first direction, wherein the welded body is on the support that supports a lower surface of the welded body that travels in the first direction; and

a third drive assembly configured to operate the cutting tool.

20. The rechargeable battery manufacturing apparatus according to claim 19,

the third drive assembly includes:

a thirty-first drive member reciprocating in a third direction;

a thirty-second drive member reciprocating in the first direction and arranged to direct the cutting tool towards the support; and

a third cam follower connecting the thirty-first drive member and the thirty-second drive member.

21. The rechargeable battery manufacturing apparatus according to claim 20,

the third drive assembly further comprises:

a substrate block mounted on a thirty-second drive member; and

an operation block having an elastic member inserted between both sides thereof and having a center mounted on the base block by a hinge,

the cutting tool is mounted on the operating block.

22. The rechargeable battery manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1,

the welding part and the cutting part manufacture a unit body by welding the first and second diaphragms accommodating electrodes from the alignment body into a bag shape and cutting the same.

23. A rechargeable battery manufacturing apparatus, the rechargeable battery manufacturing apparatus comprising:

a first welding unit configured to form a partial welding body by first welding a portion of an outer side of the electrode in the alignment body conveyed from the conveying section; and

and a welding/cutting part configured to manufacture a unit body by performing a second welding to a portion of a remaining part of the outside of the electrode in the partially welded body and simultaneously by cutting the welded portion between the adjacent electrodes.

24. The rechargeable battery manufacturing apparatus according to claim 23,

the first welding units are disposed at both sides of a second direction intersecting the first direction along which the alignment body travels, and perform first welding on outer sides of the electrodes at both sides of the second direction, respectively.

25. The rechargeable battery manufacturing apparatus according to claim 24, wherein,

the welding/cutting portion includes:

a fourth support part supporting a lower surface of the partial welding body advancing in the first direction;

a welding/cutting tool performing a second welding on an outer side of the electrodes of the partial welded body above a fourth support in a third direction crossing the second direction while cutting a welded portion between adjacent electrodes; and

a fourth drive assembly to operate the welding/cutting tool.

26. The rechargeable battery manufacturing apparatus according to claim 25, wherein,

the fourth drive assembly includes:

a forty-first driving member reciprocating in a third direction;

a forty-second driving member reciprocating in the first direction and disposed to face the welding/cutting tool toward the fourth support; and

a fourth cam follower connecting the forty-first drive member and the forty-second drive member.

27. The rechargeable battery manufacturing apparatus according to claim 26,

the fourth drive assembly further comprises:

a substrate block mounted on the forty-second driving member; and

a heating block mounted on the substrate block,

the welding/cutting tool comprises:

a welding member mounted on the heating block and having a flat end portion of a pressing and welding portion welding body provided at one side thereof; and

and a knife attached to one side of the welding member to cut a portion of the welded body.

28. The rechargeable battery manufacturing apparatus according to claim 27, wherein,

in the welding/cutting tool, the knives and the pressing members form a first group arranged from left to right and a second group arranged from right to left in the first direction.

29. The rechargeable battery manufacturing apparatus according to claim 27, wherein,

the first group and the second group form a continuous solid line in the second direction in the partial welded body.

30. The rechargeable battery manufacturing apparatus according to claim 29, wherein,

the knife cuts the partially fused body along the solid line.

31. The rechargeable battery manufacturing apparatus according to claim 26,

the fourth drive assembly further comprises:

a substrate block mounted on the forty-second driving member; and

a heating block mounted on the substrate block,

the welding/cutting tool comprises:

a welding member mounted on the heating block and having both sides provided with flat ends which move up and down to press and weld the partial welding bodies; and

and a knife disposed between the welding members to cut a portion of the welded body.

32. The rechargeable battery manufacturing apparatus according to claim 31, wherein,

the knife has a symmetrical structure in which a middle portion of the knife sharply protrudes in a first direction; and is

The welding member accommodates the symmetrical structure of the blade and forms a symmetrical structure having the protruding end portion of the middle portion thereof sharply protruding in the first direction to press and weld the portion welding bodies at both sides thereof.

33. A rechargeable battery manufacturing method, comprising the steps of:

a transfer step of holding and transferring an alignment body in which an electrode is provided between a first diaphragm and a second diaphragm;

a welding step of forming a welded body by welding an outer side of the electrode in the alignment body conveyed in the conveying step; and

a cutting step of manufacturing a unit body by cutting a welded portion between adjacent electrodes in the welded body conveyed in the welding step.

34. The rechargeable battery manufacturing method according to claim 33,

the welding step comprises the following steps:

a first welding step of performing first welding on outer sides of the electrodes, respectively, at both sides of a second direction intersecting with a first direction along which the alignment body travels; and

and a second welding step of performing second welding on outer sides of the electrodes at both sides of the first direction along which the alignment body travels, respectively.

35. The rechargeable battery manufacturing method according to claim 34, wherein,

the first fusing step includes: extending in the first direction to weld the alignment body at an outer side of the second direction of the electrode.

36. The rechargeable battery manufacturing method according to claim 35, wherein,

the second fusing step includes: extending in the second direction to weld the alignment body at an outer side of the first direction of the electrode.

37. The rechargeable battery manufacturing method according to claim 36,

the cutting step comprises: the unit body is manufactured by cutting the outside of the electrode of the welded body upward in a third direction intersecting the first direction and the second direction, in which the welded body travels.

38. A rechargeable battery manufacturing method, comprising the steps of:

a partial welding step of forming a partial welded body by first welding a portion of the outside of the electrode in the alignment body conveyed in the conveying step; and

a welding/cutting step of manufacturing a unit body by performing second welding on a part of a remaining portion of the outside of the electrode in the partially welded body conveyed in the partially welding step, and by cutting a welded portion between adjacent electrodes.

39. The rechargeable battery manufacturing method according to claim 38,

the partial welding step comprises: first welding is performed on the outer sides of the electrodes on both sides of a second direction intersecting with a first direction along which the alignment body travels.

40. The rechargeable battery manufacturing method according to claim 39, wherein,

the welding/cutting step includes:

supporting a lower surface of the partial welding body traveling in the first direction; and

the unit body is manufactured by performing second welding to the outside of the electrodes of the partially welded body in a third direction crossing the second direction while cutting a portion between the adjacent electrodes.

41. A rechargeable battery manufactured by the manufacturing apparatus or the manufacturing method of any one of claim 1 to claim 40, the rechargeable battery comprising:

an electrode assembly formed by stacking a plurality of first and second separators containing electrodes manufactured as a unit body having a pouch shape; and

and a case housing the electrode assembly.

42. The rechargeable battery according to claim 41,

the housing is formed as a can or bag.

43. The rechargeable battery according to claim 41,

the first separator and the second separator manufacture a negative electrode among the electrodes in a pouch shape.